Following his very _stroag message to the Fourth Plenary Session on November 14, General Chiang Kai-shek, and Messrs, Hu Han-min,' Tai Chi-tao and Wang Chung-hui asa special committee, have drawn up a very comprehensive political programme for the ensuing year, involving not extensive' reform of the whole system so much as a tightening up of the original arrangements. The main design, to quote the words of the committee's report, is the reorganization of the present system of government machinery, the wiping away of corrupt practices, the improvement of officialdom, and finally to decide upon the main policies of the Central and local governments for the immediate future. The programme is an extensive one. and commences with reformation ithin the government itself, which, if the whole scheme can be carried through, would be finally extended throughout the country, and the consequent improventent in efficiently dealing with those very manifest troubles which constitute s0 serious a reproach to the government as it stands to-day. The committee accepts the strong indictment issued by Chiang Kai-shek and indeed punctuates it in a most significant manner, Thus, for example: "Many heads of the Central Government organs do not possess a sense of rosponility and are characterized by indolence and perfunctory performance of their duties. 1t is alleged that some of the heads of Government organs often proceed to Shanghai on Fridays and do not' return -until Tuesday." It is this practice which has aroused so much criticism in some Chinese quarters' as amounting practically to "Government from Shanghai."
In discussing. the measures which should be immediately taken in hand the report emphasized that every effort should be concentrated upon the elimination of Communism and the bandit*menace on the one hand and on the other the military and financial rehabilitation of the country. If judged solely, from the standpoint of the necessity of taking first things first, this enunciation of Policy is good, for with the restoration of peace and order within the borders of China much will have been done for the rejuvenation of its trad and a big step taken mowat financial rehabilitation. Thera appears to be one criticism to be levelled against the proposals for the suppression of Communism and banditry and that is the time within which the committee thinks it can be completely effected—within three or six months. It is difficult to escape the conclusion that the task will prove so great that 50 short a time limit would barely permit of the fringes of the evil to be touched. The suggested enforcement of the pao-chia system, under which the inhabitants of a village arevcollectively responsible for the acts of individual members may not at first commend itself to foreign readers, but it is difficult to disregard the possibility that its strict application may prove beneficial, reminiscent though of a former imperial ideals which to-day stand a better chance of attainment than ever before in the history of the revolution. There is every indication of a complete understanding between Nanking and Mukden, a virtual unification of the country so far as is possible in existing circumstances, with a prospect of becoming complete should the first part of the programme be carried to its con-" clusion, The young Marshal has emphasized his desire to work with Nanking for the good of the country as a whole, and it would be a remarkably dannie militarist who would endeavour to stand in the way of his comdination with Chiang. Kai-shels for the furtherance of common fey. So, with a public re-of the many drags vheels of the revolutionary government, an early admission of the abuses which have arisen during the past three years, and the very evident determination to eradicate them, there is every prospect of hope for the internal Gen. Chiang shek has given a lead, he has been winnly supported: by, a committee including the gent) men whose names are given above and Nanking will be untrue to itself and the country if it fails to take advantage the advice so frankly given to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.